Entry-level Economist salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Salary range
Most entry-level filings in Seattle, WA are at exactly $147,000. 13 of 21 filings (62%) list this exact salary.
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $110,000 |
| 25th | $147,000 |
| 50th (median) | $147,000 |
| 75th | $147,000 |
| 90th | $151,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $128,100 | $124,000 | $129,485 | 34 |
| FY2021 | $84,947 | $77,730 | $125,600 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $135,000 | $84,947 | $140,000 | 27 |
| FY2023 | $81,120 | $80,662 | $147,500 | 15 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2026 | $147,000 | $147,000 | $147,000 | 14 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median entry-level Economist salary of $147,000 is worth about $132,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Economists in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $126,420 in May 2025 (200 employed). The H-1B median here is $147,000, 16% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $147,000 | 20 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $147,000 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $148,500 | 36 |
| Senior · Level III | $165,600 | 29 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $91,853 | $147,000 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $118,810 | $148,500 | 36 |
| Senior · Level III | $145,766 | $165,600 | 29 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.